Body-Mass Index and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Women

Obesity is a known risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Among more than 10,000 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study, body-mass index was associated with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in both normal-weight and overweight women. Weight gain was associated with symptoms of reflux, even in women with a normal body-mass index at baseline. Body-mass index was associated with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in both normal-weight and overweight women. Weight gain was associated with symptoms of reflux, even in women with a normal body-mass index at baseline. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, with hallmark symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation, 1 is a common disorder, affecting up to 60 percent of persons at some time during the course of a year and 20 to 30 percent of persons at least weekly. 2 , 3 Gastroesophageal reflux disease accounts for at least 9 million office visits to physicians in the United States each year and costs approximately $10 billion annually. 4 Frequent or severe symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease are associated with time lost from work, 5 impaired health-related quality of life, 6 and esophageal adenocarcinoma, 7 further emphasizing the clinical significance of this entity. Several cross-sectional . . .